When Should You Change Your Career?

Yahoo finance recently published 6 terrible reasons to change your career that are worth considering before you leave your current career behind for greener grass on the other side.   Terrible reasons include:  not fitting in with the company culture, not getting the recognition, you’re bored,  no where to move up, you want more money or you’ve made a mistake you can’t live with in your current career.

The piece offers a number of alternatives to consider such as exploring new workplaces, if you don’t fit in, or let go of what others think of you and start improving yourself, if  recognition is your problem.  Overall, I agree in that many of these things can be addressed in one way or another.   Sometimes there just isn’t that good of a fit between employee and company, but it doesn’t mean the employee won’t do great in the same career elsewhere.

Depending where you are in your career you really have to give careful thought before making such a big change.  If you’re fairly established with several years of experience you may have to give up pay, connections, technical skills, responsibility and so on when you make such a change.  For example, a software developer that wants to get into sales isn’t going to be programming anymore so skills and certifications can be lost if not maintained on his or her own time and dime.

Perhaps deep down the current career just isn’t your calling and not what you’re naturally inclined to do the rest of your life!  I think it may be okay to consider a career change if you can move to a related industry or leverage skills you’ve worked hard to attain.  A software developer may do a fine job as a technical sales consultant.  Not only is a software developer engaged in sales, the developer must stay attached to the technology and probably the development team.

I think it’s wise to consider all the reasons mentioned in the YahooFinance article but you have to consider what you’re most passionate about.  You won’t likely succeed or attain your objectives in the long run if you hate your job.  My advice – if you decide to make a change, do a close evaluation of your experience and skills and look at what you can take with you.  This will likely allow you to make a better transition and avoid from starting over at the bottom of the latter.

Have you made a career change?  If so, share your experience in the comments.